IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  Wl-f>r  MAIN  STREET 
WEBSTER.  NY.  14580 

(716)  «72-.',r,.5 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/iCIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


w 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  h3s  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 


n 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagee 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  litre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-6tre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dan?  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 


Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gale  de  rimpression 

Includes  supplementary  materis 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  dditior  disponible 


r~7|  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~p\  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

□  Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comi 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  d  nouveau  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu^  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


SOX 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Tha  copy  filmed  hers  has  bean  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  uppaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  legibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  w>:h  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
ginArosit*  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Lea  imagas  suivantas  ont  4tA  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  »oin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nettetA  de  rexempiaira  f ilmA,  et  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmage. 

Lea  exempiairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniire  page  qui  comporta  una  ampreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exempiairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporta  una  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  la  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

t 

3 

4 

5 

6 

«i"P""iiinpilipiiiip 


OREGON. 


THK  COSr,  AND  THE  CONSEQIJKNCES. 


"  Sic  vos  non  vobis." 


BY 


A  DISCIPLE  OF  THE  WASHINGTON  SCHOOL. 


PHILADELPHIA; 

Vor  Sale  at  .laliu  ('   Clnrk  »  Bookstore,  tiO  Dock  Strenl 

1846. 


>-■ 

/ 

^, 

z  ■ 

-S 

,■.''  *' 

C.O 

V. 

X 

OREGON, 


&c.  &c. 


An  unjustifiable  impression  exists  throughout  Europe,  in  Great 
Britain  especially,  that  the  extraordinary  desire  displayed  by  the 
people  of  the  United  States  for  the  extension  of  the  national  do- 
main, is  demonstrative  of  a  cupidity  for  land,  as  selfish  as  insa- 
tiable. 

It  is  undeniable,  that  a  majority  of  our  citizens,  consisting  in  no 
small  proportion  of  naturalized  Europeans,  appear  to  be  desirous 
of  every  possible  acquisition  of  territory;  although,  in  pr^ortion 
to  number,  there  is  more  land  accessible  here  to  enterprising  in- 
dustry, than  ever  before  was  at  the  command  of  a  civilized  nation. 
Nevertheless,  nothing  is  farther  from  the  truth  than  the  inference, 
that  the  people  of  this  Union  covet  territory  to  an  extent  far  be- 
yond that  which  they  can  themselves  profitably  employ,  in  order 
to  prevent  the  settlement  of  it  by  foreigners. 

Let  any  European  who  questions  this  allegation,  give  attention 
to  this  glaring  fact,  that  whatever  territory  may  be  acquired  by 
his  brethren  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  is  no  more  for  the  benefit 
of  them  and  their  posterity,  than  for  him  and  his  posterity. 

Never  were  the  words  of  Virgil  "*/c  vos  non  vobis''  (thus  you 
not  for  yourselves),  as  exemplified  in  the  nest-building  fowl,  the 
honey-making  bee,  the  wool-bearing  sheep,  or  plough-drawing 
oxen,  more  completely  carried  out,  than  in  the  exertions,  suffer- 
ings, and  sacrifices,  which  the  present  inhabitants  of  the  United 
States  are  disposed  to  make  for  territorial  aggrandizement.  The 
acquisitions  thus  sought,  are  held  less  for  their  own  benefit  than  for 
that  of  settlers  who  may  come  from  any  part  of  the  globe.  IJul, 
in  particular,  let  any  native  of  the  British  Isles  keep  in  mind,  that 
although  all  men  from  all  corners  of  the  earth  are  invited  to  parti 


47648 


c 


lipate  iVeely  in  uiii  lenilorial  affluence,  none  can  have  I'acilities  so 
great,  as  those  who  speak  tlie  language  of  the  peojjie  among  whom 
a  new  ahode  is  sought,  anil  whose  education  and  habits  are  the 
least  of  a  nature  to  keep  up  the  idea  that  they  are  foreigners. 

Evidently  the  present  population  of  the  United  Sl;ites  proper 
can  have  no  motive  for  acquiring  more  land;  since,  whatever  may 
be  nominally  acquired,  will  be  for  the  benefit  of  all  the  rest  of 
Christendom,  no  less  than  for  themselves.  We  should  fight  for 
possessions  for  the  posterity  of  the  English,  Scotch,  and  Irish,  of 
which  the  British  armies  consist;  nay,  even  for  the  soldiers  com.- 
posing  those  armies,  who,  like  many  of  the  Hessians  brought  here 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  might  find  a  home  in  the  country 
which  they  would  cross  the  Atlantic  to  subdue,  preferable  to  that 
afforded  by  their  native  soil. 

The  author  neither  joins  with  his  countrymen  in  their  r.vi- 
dity  for  land,  nor  in  the  philanthropy  which  would  make  our 
acquisitions  as  beneficial  to  our  adversaries  as  ourselves.  He 
cannot  help  considering  it  as  extremely  unreasonable  that  the 
American  people  should  pour  out  their  blood  and  treasure  for 
territory  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  benefit  of  mankind  in  gene- 
ral, themselves  and  the  aborigines,  tlie  only  rightful  owners,  ex- 
cepted. 

Having  shown  that  the  expansion  of  the  domain  of  tliis  con- 
federacy is  less  for  the  benefit  of  the  actual  population  vvhich  it 
comprises,  than  for  that  of  their  adversary,  let  us,  in  the  next 
place,  consider  how  far  this  territorial  enlargement  is  consistent 
with  the  endurance  of  the  present  much  approved  form  of  the  na- 
tional government. 

The  ruling  party  is  mainly  indebted  for  its  ascendancy  to  its 
professions  of  superior  zeal  for  a  republican  representative  govern- 
ment, acting  as  immediately  as  possible  in  obedience  to  instruc- 
tions from  constituents.  Under  these  circumstances,  does  it  not 
become  them  to  consider  how  far  the  gigantic  dimensions  to  which 
it  is  proposed  to  swell  this  republic,  will  comport  with  a  compe- 
tent representation  of  the  voice  of  the  people;  when  in  the  course 
of  a  century,  or  a  century  and  an  half,  the  population  of  the  vast 
territory  which  it  is  now  contemplated  to  bring  under  the  national 
dominion,  shall  be  augmented  agreeably  to  the  geometric  ratio 
which  it  obeys  agreeably  to  experience. 

It  has  been  ascertained,  that  the  population  in  the  United  States 
doubles  every  twenty-three  years.     Nothing  but  a  diminution  of 


acilities  so 
oiig  whom 
ts  are  the 
;ners. 

Its  proper 
lever  may 
he  rest  of 
1  fight  for 
d  Irish,  of 
diers  com.- 
ought  here 
le  country 
ble  to  that 

their  rvi- 
make  our 
Ives.  He 
J  that  the 
easure  for 
in  genc- 
vvners,  ex- 


this  con- 
1  which  it 
I  the  next 
consistent 
of  the  na- 
ncy to  its 
/e  govern- 
to  instruc- 
oes  it  not 
s  to  which 

a  compe- 
:he  course 
f  the  vast 
e  national 
itric  ratio 

ted  States 
inution  of 


the  supply  of  the  necessaries  ol  life  can  cause  this  rate  of  increase 
to  decline;  and  of  course,  should  there  be  no  such  diminution,  it 
will  not  be  long  before  the  territory  in  question  will  become  as 
rej)letc  with  inhabitants  as  the  more  populous  countries  of  the  old 
world. 

Supposing  the  population,  within  the  i)oundaries  contemplated, 
to  reach  twenty  millions  in  the  year  1850,  and  that  the  period 
requisite  to  its  duplication  will  be  twenty-live  years,  it  would  fol- 
low, that  in  the  year  1875,  the  population  will  be  forty  millions; 
in  1900,  eighty  millions;  in  1925,  one  hundred  and  sixty  millions; 
in  1950,  three  hundred  and  twenty  millions;  in  1975,  six  hundred 
and  forty  millions;  and  in  2000,  a  little  more  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  hence,  twelve  hundred  and  eighty  millions. 

But  even  at  the  close  of  the  present  century,  eighty  millions, 
the  number  of  inhabitants  which  will  then  exist,  would  be  too 
large  for  adequate  representation,  since  the  ratio  of  the  voters  to 
the  representatives  must  be  five  times  as  great  as  at  present,  in 
order  to  have  a  commensurate  efficiency.  If,  at  present,  there 
can  be  only  one  to  fifty  thousand,  there  could  then  only  be  one  to 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  voters.  At  the  close  of  the  second 
century,  it  would  be  at  least  sixty-four  times  as  great  as  at  present, 
or  twelve  hundred  thousand.  Is  it  conceivable  that  such  a  popu- 
lation can  all  be  well  represented,  and  controlled  by  one  great  con- 
gressional legislature  ?  The  difficulty,  as  respects  the  Executive 
or  judiciary,  would  not  be  less. 

It  has  been  admitted,  that  the  increase  of  population  on  which 
these  inferences  are  founded,  would  require  the  means  of  subsist- 
ence to  augment  proportionally  with  the  people.  But  should  the 
supposition  that  food  will  become  so  scarce  as  to  check  the  multi- 
plication of  souls,  be  deemed  more  reasonable,  it  should  be  consi- 
dered whether  there  will  not  proportionally  be  a  greater  impedi- 
ment to  the  competency  of  republican  government,  arising  from 
the  greater  tempt  ion  to  crime  consequent  upon  greater  need; 
and  whether  the  number  capable  of  paying  for  the  advantages  of 
education  becoming  comparatively  less,  there  will  not  be  a  larger 
number  incapable  of  judging  for  themselves,  and  liable  to  be  de- 
ceived by  demagogues. 

To  allege  that  it  is  not  our  duty  to  consider  the  consequences 
of  our  measures  to  those  who  may  succeed  us,  is  to  concede  the 
impolicy  of  any  effort  to  get  more  land  than  is  now  necessary  to 
our  welfare,  in  order  that  it  may  be  enjoyed  by  posterity. 

It  has  been  said,  that  nobody  looks  to  the  consequences  of  their 


(I 

iiH'iii^iires  s(i  loii|<  iilieail.  Hut  how  ignohlt:  wuiilii  lli*  policy  «>! 
iiiy  statosniMii  appt'iir  in  llie  liisloriral  |)age  wIki  sIiomUI  prefer  a 
ntmiiiial  tonhorial  agujiandiy.emeiit,  to  the  endurance  of  the  nation 
and  the  (leniorrati<;  institutions  c.onfidnd  to  Iheiv  management:  ol 
whom  th(!  amhition  as  respects  s|)ar<',  slionhl  he  houndlcss,  and 
yrt  so  narrow  as  n.'spects  futurity?  Within  a  term  h;ss  tlian  that 
which  has  ("lapsed  since  the  Filirrinis  stept  upon  the  Plymouth 
rock,  or  Penn  made  his  treaty  at  Kensington,  shall  tiie  sovereign 
mendx'rs  of  our  present  confederacy,  including,  of  course,  the 
''old  thirteen,'*  j)lay  a  snhordinate  part  in  a  great,  unwieldy  mul- 
titude of  several  hundred  millions  of  souls? 

It  will  he  perceived,  that  in  the  dispute  respecting  Oregon,  each 
government  has  taken  a  course  in  opposition  to  the  true  interest 
of  the  people  over  which  it  presides.  On  the  one  hand,  the  Ame- 
rican government  is  endeavouring  to  promote  the  transfer  of  la- 
hour,  of  which  the  Ignited  States  are  deficient,  to  a  region  more 
remote  than  Europe,  and  at  great  sacrifices  to  open  an  asylum  for 
an  excess  of  British  population,  which  can  neither  be  well  fed  nor 
well  managed  at  home.  On  the  other  hand,  the  government  of 
(ireat  Britain  rejects  the  profiered  service,  preferring  to  extend 
her  North  American  colonial  possessions,  already  a  source  of  bur- 
thcnsome  expense. 

Meanwhile,  neither  party  seems  sufficiently  aware,  that  this 
enormous  republic,  like  a  huge  serpent  gorged  by  taking  in  more 
than  is  consistent  with  vigour,  may  become  less  formidable  to 
other  nations,  instead  of  deranging  the  balance  of  power,  as  some- 
European  writers  have  suggested,  by  a  dangerous  preponderancy. 
By  our  statesmen  it  appears  to  be  overlooked,  that  like  all  other 
articles,  the  comparative  value  of  land  in  the  market  must  lessen 
in  proportion  as  the  supply  is  more  abundant.  The  clamour  in 
favour  of  the  tarifl',  shows  that  this  law  is  fully  appreciated  as  re- 
spects manufactures  and  produce,  yet,  most  unaccountably,  it  is 
not  perceived  to  be  equally  in  force  as  respects  land. 

The  comparative  lowness  of  wages,  and  the  rate  of  interest  on 
loans  in  Great  Britain,  arises  from  the  greater  scarcity  of  land  in 
proportion  to  capital  and  labour.  An  opposite  state  of  things  ex- 
ists on  tiiis  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Here  there  is  a  superabundance 
of  land,  while  labour  and  capital  are  comparatively  scarce:  hence 
the  extreme  cheapness  of  our  wild  lands,  which  are  constantly 
drawing  oft"  from  those  which  are  cultivated,  the  labour  and  capital 
which  are  indispensable  to  their  productiveness.  It  is,  therefore, 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  interest  of  those  who  own  cultivated 


i. 


pulley  (jI 
il  jjiofer  a 
\\ui  nutiuii 
:iMneiit:  ol 
Ue.ss,  and 

lliuii  that 

Plymouth 

sovereign 

ourse,  the 

ieldy  mul- 

L^gon,  each 
le  interest 
the  Ame- 
sfer  of  la- 
^ion  more 
sylum  for 
i\\  fed  nor 
rnment  of 
to  extend 
ce  of  bur- 

that  this 
g  in  more 
nidable  to 
r,  as  some 
(nderancy. 

all  other 
ust  lessen 
lamour  in 
ited  as  re- 
tably,  it  is 

iterest  on 
)f  land  in 
things  ex- 
ibundance 
ce:  hence 
.constantly 
nd  capita! 
therefore, 
cultivated 


rurni.<>  and  planlaUons,  or  arable  land,  in  llieu'  vicinity,  that  we 
should  make  further  additions  to  ibc  unsettled  tisrritory  of  (bi>  re- 
public. 

National  strength,  financial  economy,  education,  and  religions 
instruction,  are  proportionally  more  attainable  in  a  dense  popula- 
tion, than  in  one  which  is  scattered  and  straggling. 

Admitting,  however,  that  to  our  commerce,  on  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  the  possession  of  some  ports  in  Oregon  may  be  desirable: 
admitting  that  the  enormous  region  on  this  side  of  the  Kocky 
Mountains,  will  not  furnish  a  sufficiency  of  land  to  permit  the 
growth  of  our  American  population,  to  an  extent  too  numerous 
and  unwieldy  for  the  endurance  of  the  Union,  or  the  existence  ol 
free  government;  admitting  that  it  were  desirable  that  ourdomain. 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Atlantic,  shall  on  the  west  be  extended 
to  the  disputed  shores  of  the  Pacific,  are  there  not  many  things 
which  nations,  no  less  than  individuals,  must  forego,  when  the  at- 
tainment will  "f'o*/  ?nore  than  it  will  come  to Z^"  Our  last  war 
with  Great  JJritain  cost  at  the  rate  at  least  of  forty  millions  of 
dollars  a  year,  besides  losses,  public  and  private,  to  an  enormous 
amount.  Yet  there  is  much  reason  to  infer  that  the  annual  ex- 
pense of  another  war  with  that  power,  would  be  far  greater.  We 
came  out  of  the  war  of  1812,  exulting  that  we  had  sustained  no 
territorial  losses.  Our  gains  were  all  negative,  with  the  excejjtion 
of  the  glory  of  some  military  and  naval  success.  Yet  our  victo- 
ries were  accomplished  under  circumstances  which  cannot  again 
exist.  When  the  war  commenced,  the  navy  and  the  armies  of 
Great  Britain  were  fully  occupied  in  fighting  for  independence 
against  Napoleon,  aided  by  a  great  part  of  Kuropc,  more  or  less 
subjected  to  his  despotism.  Subsecjuently  to  his  fall,  before  she 
could  direct  her  whole  force  towards  the  United  .States,  the  other 
powers,  who  had  become  allied  with  her  in  dethroning  that  despot, 
insisted  upon  a  general  peace. 

Were  it  a  question,  whether  or  not  to  abandon  an  indubitable 
right,  such  as  that  which  a  Creek  or  Cherokee  had  to  the  soil  on 
which  his  race  had  existed  from  time  immemorial,  a  brave  and 
virtuous  native  American  would  rather  die  than,  in  obedience  to 
the  dictation  of  an  invader,  meanly  live  to  carry  his  bones  to  be 
deposited,  a  few  years  later,  on  some  spot  in  a  distant  region. 
But  the  actual  object  of  contention  is  the  inverse  of  rightful.  The 
question  is,  which  of  the  parties  is  best  entitled  lu  carry  out,  in 
Oregon,  a  system  by  which  the  aborigines  of  North  America  have 


8 


for  the  most  part  been  extiri)ate(l,  iti  derogation  of  strict  justice 
anil  humanity. 

Consistently  with  the  allegation,  "lie  that  knoweth  his  Master's 
will,  yet  (loeth  it  not,  shall  he  beaten  with  many  stripes,"  while 
those  who  neglect  that  will,  ii(nor(i/if/i/,  are  to  be  beaten  eompa- 
ratively  with  few,  would  not  the  Pagan  savage  have  a  better  pros- 
pect in  a  future  state,  than  (Christians  who  go  to  war,  not  to  de- 
fend proj)erty  which  God  has  given  them,  but  for  a  precedence  in 
taking  that  which  he  has  given  to  others,  as  their  only  home  in 
this  world  ? 

It  has  been  justly  observed,  that  in  consequence  of  the  extreme 
remoteness  of  the  disputed  ttiritory,  the  conquest  and  defence  of 
it  by  an  army  would  be  immensely  expensive,  and  without  naval 
superiority  could  not  be  successful.  If  this  great  republic  is  to 
indulge  in  such  vast  projects  of  aggrandizement,  should  it  not  be- 
gin by  building  a  navy  competent  to  cope  with  that  of  Great  Bri- 
tain? Unless  this  be  done,  will  not  the  n. reals  of  our  political 
leaders  be  viewed  by  all  the  world  as  an  cflbrt  to  deter  Great  Bri- 
tain from  insisting  on  claims  which  we  have  not  the  means  to  re- 
sist? Evidently  we  have  no  hold  upon  that  power,  beyond  her 
unwillingness  to  bear  her  share  in  a  war  productive  of  impoverish- 
ment and  misery  to  both  countries,  and  which  would  cause  an  ad- 
ditional and  extremely  distressing  burthen  upon  her  linances.  iiut 
if  the  plunge  be  made,  however  unwillingly,  we  are  certain  to 
incur  losses  and  expenses  at  least  equal  to  those  of  our  last  war, 
and  probably  extending  to  treble  their  amount.  Thus,  while  seve- 
ral members  of  the  confederacy  plead  inability  to  raise  by  taxation 
enough  money  to  pay  the  interest  due  upon  their  debt,  we  are,  for 
the  sake  of  a  territory  some  thousands  of  miles  distant,  and  sepa- 
rated from  us  by  barren  and  mountainous  deserts,  to  expend  a  sum 
far  greater  than  that  of  the  public  debt  due  by  all  the  States.  This 
expenditure  is  to  ensue  without  our  having  the  smallest  reason  to 
think  that  we  shall,  in  consequence  of  it,  be  any  nearer  to  the  ac- 
(juisition  of  Oregon,  than  if  it  had  not  been  incurred. 

Let  it  be  supposed,  nevertheless,  that  we  shall  succeed  in  get- 
ting possession  of  the  much  coveted  territory,  what  benefit  will 
the  people  on  this  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  gain  by  their  asso- 
ciation with  the  people  on  the  other  side?  So  long  as  the  inha- 
bitants of  Oregon  shall  be  too  poor  and  too  weak  to  govern  and 
protect  themselves,  we  shall  have  the  honour  of  being  at  the  ex- 
pense and  inconvenience  of  protecting  them;  but  whenever  they 
shall  become  sufficiently  powerful  and  wealthy  to  form  an  ind'^- 


0 


•ict  justice 

is  Master's 
>es,"  vvliile 
en  compa- 
H'tter  i)ros- 
iiot  to  (Ic- 
icedeiice  in 
ly  home  in 

he  extreme 
I  (letence  ol 
thout  naval 
)ublic  is  to 
i\  it  not  be- 

Grcat  liri- 
iiir  political 
•  Great  Bri- 
ncans  to  re- 
bey  on  d  bcr 
impoverish- 
:ause  an  ad- 
ances.  But 
e  certain  to 
lur  last  war, 

while  seve- 

by  taxation 
,  we  are,  for 

t,  and  sepa- 
cpend  a  sum 
tates.  This 
!st  reason  to 
^r  to  the  ac- 

eed  in  get- 
benefit  will 
y  their  asso- 
is  the  inha- 
govern  and 
r  at  the  ex- 
enever  they 
m  an  ind'^- 


pnuiont  nation,  ran  it  Im'  expn'ti'd  that  their  representatives  will 
cross  barren  moinitains  and  descjrts,  thousands  of  miles,  in  order 
to  have  their  laws  made  with  the  aid  of  strangers? 

'J'hi'  grandeiu"  of  a  monarch  may  become  greater  in  proportion 
as  his  dominions  are  extended.  'J'hu  more  .slu'e|)  he  may  have  to 
shear,  the  more  abundant  will  lie  his  crop  of  wool.  But  in  a  tndy 
democratic  conlederacy,  ea(!h  of  the  confedtMated  States  nuist,  to  a 
certain  extent,  be  self-governed;  while,  to  the  national  revenue, 
the  contribution  from  .some  memijers  may  be  nuu-h  less  than  that 
wliicli  may  be  ex|)endeil  for  their  benefit.  It  is  notorious,  that  on 
some  counties  in  the  State  of  l^ennsylvania,  more  money  has  hv.v.n 
bestowed  iVoni  the  School  Fund,  than  the  whole  sum  raised  within 
them  by  State  taxation.  Thus  there  is  a  resendjlanci;  between  re- 
ciprocal consu(pieni;es  of  annexation  or  ac(|uisition  of  territory  by 
a  re|)ul)lican  confetleracy,  and  the  taking  in  a  new  iix'mber  in  the 
case  of  a  co|)artneishij),  which  must  be  rendered  st»dn%er  oi*  weaker 
accordingly  as  the  mendjer  introdut^ed  has  moro  or  less  capital,  or 
more  or  less  ability  than  those  |)reviously  composing  the  lirni.  If 
a  |)artnei  I"!  taken  into  a  concern  who  is  in  debt,  in  a  state  of  hos- 
tilitv  with  his  neighI)our,  and  wanting  in  capacity  to  take  care  of 
his  own  affairs,  evidently  it  must  be  disadvantageous  to  hi.s  new 
associates. 

As  soon  as  the  immense  I'egions  between  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  the  Mississippi  shall  be  well  peo|jled,  if  judiciously  governed, 
it  will  not  be  within  the  power  of  Great  Britain  to  prevent  them 
tVom  confederating  with  the  people  of  Oregon. 

How  is  our  government  to  ol)tain  the  enormous  I'unus  requisite 
to  carry  on  a  war?  They  will  have  credit  neither  at  home  nor 
abroad.  While  tin;  United  Slates  have  within  them  powerful  and 
uncomi)romising  factions,  which  hold  ii[)  to  the  woild  the  pros- 
pect of  disunion  ami  conse(|uent  anarchy,  can  it  be  expected  that 
our  government  \v\i\  have  credit  to  cany  on  a  war  extremeltj  un- 
popular with  the  great  mass  ot"  our  more  \veallhy  and  intelligent 
citizens? 

It  should  be  remembered  that  monied  men,  for  the  most  part, 
think  very  unfavourably  of  belligerent  measures  for  the  acriuisi- 
tion  of  Oregon,  and  would  not  deem  it  prudent  to  invest  money 
in  any  government  slock  issued  for  the  purj)Ose  of  asserting  a 
claim  to  a  worse  than  useless  territory  on  the  coast  of  the  Pacific. 
Would  it  not,  in  truth,  be  preferable  to  lend  money  to  a  gambler 
to  engage  in  the  game  ol  hazard,  ujion  the  condition  of  repayment 
only  if  the  borrower  were  to  win?     Would  not  a  war  for  Oregon 

B 


10 

1)0  a  p;ame  whore  iinmcnso  sacrilicos  would   ho  ino\  ilahlc,  wliilo 
success  would  allord  no  means  ol' indiMniiificalion? 

The  ])ooplo  o['  //irsn  Stales  are  loo  Uttlc  used  to  direct  taxation, 
to  justify  inu:  'i  rehancc  on  that  resource.  Those  who  are  sufli- 
ciently  old,  may  remember  the  Iruitlessiiess  of  the  attempts  to  get 
any  ade(|uate  resources  in  that  way,  towards  the  close  of  the  last 
war.  During  peace,  and  while  agriculture,  manufactures  and  com- 
merce, were  all  prosperous,  Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  most  wealthy 
of  the  confederated  States,  has  been  unable  to  raise,  by  direct  lax- 
(liinn,  the  means  necessary  to  prevent  a  delay  in  the  performance 
of  her  pecuniary  oi)ligations,  which  has  reduced  many  to  indi- 
gence who  relied  ujjon  her  faith.  Under  these  circumstances,  will 
lier  citizens,  in  preference  to  their  just  debts,  consent  to  pay  taxes 
in  order  to  ol)tain  lands  in  Oregon,  tending  to  withdraw  from  the 
older  States  the  labour  of  which  they  arc  in  want,  and  to  relieve 
Gieat  Hritain  of  that  wliicb  it  is  beneficial  to  her  to  rclincpiish? 

Among  the  inost  .-^erious  objections  to  a  war  for  Oregon,  are  the 
horrible  consequences  to  which  it  would  subject  the  scattered  ])0- 
jiulation  now^  residing  in  that  region.  It  would  be  im])ossiblc  for 
the  settlers  to  remain  neutral,  and  should  they  take  part  with  the 
United  States,  tiiey  would  become  victims  of  the  barbarous  and 
murderous  pretlatory  banditti,  coinposed  of  the  savages  and  half 
savage  whites,  or  half-breeds,  which  is  more  or  less  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Comj)any.  When  such  men  take 
up  the  hatchet  or  scalj)ing-knife,  experience  has  shown,  that  in  the 
use  of  these  weapons,  their  own  customs  ar'e  much  more  influential 
than  the  creed  of  their  more  civilized  employers.  Against  such 
Scythian  forays,  how  will  the  settlers  unite  so  as  to  make  head? 
Is  it  not  evident  that  a  greater  blow  to  the  prosperity  of  Oregon 
could  not  be  devised  than  a  war  with  Great  Britain? 

Mr.  Monroe's  edict  ibrbidding  I^^uropeans  to  establish  colonies 
on  this  continent,  can  have  no  weight  while  unsupported  eithi'r 
by  military  or  naval  power  adequate  to  its  enforcement,  and  un- 
sanctioned by  the  parties  which  it  aflccts. 

So  far  as  North  America  has  been  colonized  by  fraud  or  bv 
superior  force,  the  wrong  done  to  the  aborigines  by  the  coloniza- 
tion of  the  portion  which  we  iidiabit,  is  greater  than  any  which 
can  be  done  to  us,  the  possessors  under  that  wrong;  even  were 
the  territory  which  we  actually  occupy  the  object  of  a  new  coloni- 
zation, such  as  those  made  by  the  Danes,  Saxons,  and  Normans  in 
Great  Britain.  Our  own  course  of  conduct,  as  respects  the  rightful 
owners  of  the  American  soil,  furnishes  an  apology  Inr  invasion  by 


i  I       I 


1 


able,  while 

•ct  taxation. 
lO  are  sufli- 
iiiipts  to  get 
;  of  tiie  last 
cs  and  com- 
lost  wealthy 

•  direct  lax- 
[)crformancc 
my  to  indi- 
stances,  will 
to  pay  taxes 
iw  from  the 
id  to  relieve 
[in(iuish? 
3gon,  are  the 
scattered  po- 
njiossible  for 
lart  with  the 
arbarous  and 
mes  and  half 
under  the  in- 
ch men  take 
n,  that  in  the 

)re  influential 

Against  such 

make  head? 

ty  of  Oregon 

blish  colonies 
ported  either 
lent,  and  un- 

y  fraud  or  by 

•  the  coloniza- 
an  any  which 
12;  even  were 

a  new  coloni- 
d  Normans  in 
?,ts  the  rightful 
or  invasion  by 


II 

any  nation  which,  having  sufllcicMit  incentives,  may  have  also  tht 
rc(juisi1e  mililary  strenglh.  I  trust  that  ihere  is  no  nation  suf- 
licientiy  powerful  lo  make  a  Norman-like  concpicst  on  the  terri- 
tory of  the  United  Slates  proper;  but  if  (Ircat  Britain  or  France 
iiad  a  sullicicnt  motive  f(H  the  effort,  evidently  it  woidd  not  be  in 
the  power  of  the  United  States  to  prevent  either  from  colonizing 
the  territory  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Pacilic.  For 
the  defence  of  tljat  region  a  naval  sujieriority  would  be  necessary, 
for  which  our  jieople  neither  can  nor  will  furnish  the  means. 
During  j)eace,  the  disposition  to  support  a  large  navy  would  be 
wanting;  during  war,  the  ability  would  not  exist,  even  if  the  dis- 
position were  to  be  excited. 

If,  in  consequence  of  a  preference  for  the  republican  form  of 
government,  the  poj)ulation  of  the  United  States  is  prone  to  con- 
line  itself  to  their  acknowledged  domain,  it  is  better  for  us  that  a 
large  portion  of  the  Continent  should  so  remain,  as  not  to  enter 
into  a  comj)etition  with  us  foi-  settlers;  and  it  were  preferable  to 
have  on  our  frontiers,  a  population  kept  in  check  by  a  strong  go- 
vernment having  a  great  interest  in  being  at  peace  with  us. 

Were  the  wi.ole  ('ontincnt  to  oome  uiuler  our  rei)ublican  flag, 
it  would  soon,  as  above  shown,  have  a  population  too  vast  to  be 
ruled  as  one  great  republic;  and  were  the  enormous  territory  in 
question,  to  be  apportioned  between  dilFei'dit  republican  nations, 
the  liability  to  strife  would  be  greater  than  if  the  portions  not 
under  the  sway  of  the  United  States  were  ruled  by  the  IJritish. 

Is  it  not  vastly  more  important  that  the  Union  should  be  pre- 
served, the  national  constitution  respected,  and  the  free  municipal 
institutions  derived  from  the  wise  and  virtuous  i5ritons  who  colo- 
nized our  country,  retained  in  tiieir  i\dl  force,  than  that  the  na- 
tional domain  shall  be  extended? 

It  is  to  those  institutions,  to  the  "Libei-tr  Communalc," '  on 
which  l)e  Toc(iueville  has  laid  so  much  stress,  as  being  the 
safeguard  of  our  national  freedom,  that  wc  are  iiulebted  for  our 
superiority  over  the  colonists  of  other  countries.  Will  not  a 
portion  of  the  reverential  gratitude  with  which  every  enlightened 
American  regards  those  British  sages,  to  whose  virtue  and  wisdom 
we  owe  our  national  existence,  be  extended  to  the  soil  which  gave 
them  birth  and  education?  And  will  not  the  interest  with  which 
the  modern  IJriton  beholds  results  springing  from  the  excellence 

*  It  \v;is  for  lliis  lihrrly  ut'  liu;  coimimncp,  iindor  anollicr  iiamr.  IhnI  tlio  states 
riiilits  party  cdmIi'ikIimI  imlil  llu'y  sunciuliMiMi  (r)  kino- cnnrus 


.  .1 


12 

of  British  institutions,  and  the  peculiar  aptitude  of  liis  race  for 
self-government,  be  associated  with  the  country  which  has  af- 
forded a  magnificent  field  for  the  development  of  such  results? 

Let  every  Briton,  moreover,  keep  in  mind  the  fact  insisted 
upon  in  eoiiimencing  these  suggestions,  that  whatever  territory 
may  be  acquired  by  his  Anglo-Saxon  brethren,  on  this  Continent, 
is  no  more  for  the  benefit  of  them  and  their  posterity,  than  for 
him  and  his.  A  Briton  can  reach  Oregon  in  as  little  time,  nearly, 
as  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  on  arriving,  would  have 
every  essential  advantage  which  the  latter  could  claim. 

To  conclude,  should  any  two  men  who  were  transacting  busi- 
ness with  each  other  to  an  enormous  amount,  differ  in  opinion  re- 
specting their  respective  titles  to  a  tract  of  wild  land,  of  vastly 
less  importance  to  the  wealth  and  happiness  of  either,  than  the 
preservation  of  their  amicable  relations,  would  it  not  be  wise  in 
them  to  leave  the  question  to  arbitrators,  with  a  determination  to 
abide  their  award  whatever  that  award  might  be?  Where  peace 
is  far  more  important  than  the  object  in  dispute,  is  not  this  the 
only  honourable  way  of  settling  the  question  without  a  collision, 
immensely  more  injurious  than  the  worst  possible  award  ?  Even 
if  some  injustice  should  accrue,  no  dishonour  could  arise  from 
such  a  course  of  procedure. 


is  race  for 
ch  has  ai- 
results? 
3t  insisted 
•  territory- 
Continent, 
y,  than  for 
ne,  nearly, 
ould  have 

iting  busi- 
)pinion  re- 
,  of  vastly 
r,  than  the 
be  wise  in 
nination  to 
here  peace 
lot  this  the 
a  collision, 
d  ?  Even 
arise  from 


-ft 


